Home > List of regions in New Zealand

Regions is the formal term for the top tier of local government in New Zealand. There are twelve regions, each governed by an elected regional council. Five territorial authorities (the second tier of local government) also perform the functions of a regional council and thus are known as unitary authorities. Most region boundaries follow territorial authority boundaries but there are exceptions. The southern boundary of the Auckland Region, for example, cuts through the middle of the Franklin District.

Regional authorities are primarily responsible for environmental management, including water, contaminant discharge and coastal management, river and lake management including flood and drainage control, regional land management; regional transport (including public transport), biosecurity or pest management; while territorial authorities are responsible for: local-level land use management (urban and rural planning); network utility services such as water, sewerage, stormwater and solid waste management; local roads; libraries; parks and reserves; and community development. Property rates (land taxes) are used to fund both regional and territorial government activities. There is often a high degree of co-operation between regional and territorial councils as they have complementary roles.

Regions of regional councils and unitary authorities, roughly in north to south order (brand names are in parentheses):

• Northland
• Auckland
• Waikato (Environment Waikato)
• Bay of Plenty (Environment BOP)
• Gisborne (unitary authority)
• Hawke's Bay
• Taranaki
• Manawatu-Wanganui (Horizons Regional Council; horizons.mw)
• Wellington (Greater Wellington Regional Council; Greater Wellington -- The Regional Council)
• TasmanIntroduction Tasman district is a region at the northern tip of New Zealand's largest island, the South Island. Coverage It includes the Nelson Lakes and some of the headwaters of the Buller River. The northern corner includes the prominent narrow peninsu (unitary authority)
• MarlboroughMarlborough is one of the regions of New Zealand, located in the northeast of the South Island. Geography Marlborough's geography can be roughly divided into four sections. Two of these sections, in the south and the west, are mountainous. This is particu (unitary authority)
• NelsonNelson Urban Area Population 57,700 Extent from Glenduan tothe Wairoa River Unitaryauthority Name Nelson City Population 44,400 Extent from Rai Saddle to Stoke See also Tasman District The city of Nelson stands on the eastern side of Tasman Bay at the nor (unitary authority)
• West CoastThe West Coast is one of the regions of New Zealand, located on the west coast of the South Island. It includes the districts of Buller Grey and Westland''. It reaches from Kahurangi Point in the north to Awarua Point in the south, a distance of 600 km.
• CanterburyThe New Zealand region of Canterbury mostly comprises the Canterbury Plains. Christchurch is the main city, which is also the seat of the Canterbury Regional Council (trading as Environment Canterbury) and the Christchurch City Council. Geography The regi (Environment Canterbury)
• Chatham IslandsThe archipelago of the Chatham Islands Rekohu in the Moriori language, consists of about 10 islands within a 40- kilometre radius. Geography The archipelago lies at 44 degrees south and 176 degrees west, roughly 800 km to the east of Christchurch, New Zea (special territory)
• OtagoThe Otago region of New Zealand lies in the southeast of the South Island. It comprises approximately 32,000 km² making it the second-largest region in New Zealand. As of 2001 census the region had a population of 181,542. The name "Otago" anglicises the
• Southland (Environment Southland)